In MTsN Waru, Arabic teacher always uses reading method, and grammar - translation method. He has never used teaching media, except the media that are found in the class room. He still find some students who face difficulties to understand the texts. This thesis focuses on the importance of using teaching medias, one of them is playing cards. From the above problems, the reaseacher will give two questions as the following: (1) what is the effect of using playing cards in studying Arabic in MTsN Waru, North Penajam Paser Regency? (2) how far is the effectifiveness of using playing cards in improving student’s reading skill –to understand a reading-in MTsN Waru, North Penajam Paser Regency? The researcher assums that using playing cards is effective in improving student’s reading skill (specially the understanding of Arabic texts) in MTsN Waru.

This research is the experiment research, which uses quasi experiment in expressing the cause and effect between experiment group and control group. The poputation if this research is all of students of MTsN Waru in 2008/2009, and the sample of this research is the students in the first level.

To collecting datas, the researcher used test, observation and questionnaire. The result of this thesis are: (1) the using of playing cards gives the positive effect to the students in studying Arabic. This card develops the motivation and the spirit of the students to studying Arabic, and the fluency and bravery of the students in reading loudly, as well as in understanding a reading. (2) the effectiveness of using playing cards has proved and convinced through the strong evidence which is based on two ways. From the pre-test and post-test of experiment group, it is found t0 = 12,768. And from the result of post-test of two groups, it is found t0 = 4,82.

And the researcher recommands that the next researchers do the same research by using playing cards to develop reading ability –for example in reading loudly- or to develop speaking and listening skill. The researcher thinks that the using of playing cards is effective in developing speaking and reading skill too.